Closed petition Give further financial support to the Events and Hospitality industry

Being the first to close and still no clue as to when we can open, this seasonal industry is losing its summer profits that allows them to get through the first quarter of next year.

Even if we are allowed to open in December, 1 months profit won't be enough to keep us open in 2021. We need help

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This seasonal sector was closed down just before the season started. We make profit spring, summer and Christmas time. These profits are how the industry get through the Jan Feb March so with out summer, businesses will close.

We were the first to be closed and still have no idea when we are allowed to open again.

We rely on volume to trade and without mass gatherings being allowed we are closed. We cannot top up wages and cannot pay after October so many of us will close, PLEASE HELP US

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Parliament debated this topic

This topic was debated on 11 January 2021

Watch the petition 'Give further financial support to the Events and Hospitality industry' being debated

Government responded

This response was given on 15 October 2020

On 9th October the Chancellor extended the Job Support Scheme to provide temporary help to businesses that have been legally required to close as a direct result of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Read the response in full

The Government intends that extension to cover those directly employed by business conference venues and exhibition centres that have been unable to open as a result of the further measures to address rising cases of Covid-19, announced on September 22. They will be setting out more detail in due course.

The Government recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on sectors like events. We recognise the energy the industry devoted to the pilot tests, exploring how individual events could be run safely and while those tests were successful, they were overtaken by circumstances when last month, in the light of rising Covid-19 cases, the Prime Minister had to pause the reopening of business events.

Coronavirus is the biggest threat this country has faced in decades – and this country is not alone. All over the world we are seeing the devastating impact of this invisible killer.

The steps taken to slow the spread of the virus have required unprecedented restrictions on people’s lives and on businesses’ ability to operate. The situation is continuously changing and we’ve seen big increases in the number of infections in the UK.

During this difficult time the Treasury is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other government departments such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to understand the long-term effects of Covid-19 on the events sector.

Some of the sector has also benefitted from the support packages, launched by the Government, to safeguard the economy during the pandemic.

This includes the deferral of VAT payments and a year-long rates holiday for eligible businesses while some businesses have benefitted from a range of government-backed and guaranteed loan schemes, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund and the Discretionary Grant.

In addition, 94% of event venues have been able to make use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

The primary goal of the Government’s economic policy remains unchanged - to support people’s jobs - but the way we achieve that must evolve, reflecting the evolving circumstances and uncertainty of the months ahead. We are determined to get Britain’s economy back firing on all cylinders. As we do, protecting people’s health remains our top priority.

We are adapting our response to the changing context, as we said we would. The Job Support Scheme is designed to support viable businesses who are facing lower demand due to Covid-19 keep their employees in work and attached to the workforce. The scheme will also cover businesses that are legally required to close their premises as a direct result of Coronavirus restrictions set by one or more of the four governments in the UK.

As in many schemes similar to the JSS around the world, the company will be reimbursed after it claims, beginning from early December. Employers will first need to know if they are eligible for the scheme, and this also ensures HMRC can make vital checks to stop fraudulent or criminal claims to protect taxpayers’ money.

These are the right steps to take to support people and businesses, to minimise deep and long-lasting impacts, and to support the economy through this difficult period.

While we will not be able to protect every single job or save every single business, we will continue to monitor the impact of Government support with regard to supporting businesses, individuals, and sectors such as events as we respond to this pandemic.

HM Treasury

Budget 2021 - support for hospitality industry

On Wednesday 3 March, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP presented the 2021 Budget, setting out the Government's plans for tax and spending over the next year.

The Budget included new support for the hospitality industry. The Chancellor announced hospitality, accommodation and leisure businesses in England will be eligible for a one-off cash grant of up to £18,000 per premises.

The Government will also extend the reduction in VAT (to 5%) for the hospitality and tourism sectors until the end of September, followed by a rate of 12.5% for the six months until 31 March 2022.

Eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in England will also continue to receive business rates relief until the end of March 2022.

You can read a summary of the key measures announced in the Budget here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/budget-2021-what-you-need-to-know

You can read the Chancellor's full Budget Speech to the House of Commons here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/budget-speech-2021

Who is the Chancellor?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the Government Minister in charge of the Government's tax and spending decisions. They are appointed by the Prime Minister and are one of the most senior Government Ministers.

Find out more about the role and the current Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP:
https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/chancellor-of-the-exchequer

What is the Budget?

The Budget is a statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, updating MPs on how much the Government is spending, borrowing, and receiving from taxation. The Budget usually happens once per year.

The Budget is also when the Chancellor announces changes to tax and Government spending. This means the Budget is often used to announce new Government policies or changes to existing policies.

Find out more about Parliament's role in scrutinising the Budget:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/check-and-approve-government-spending-and-taxation/the-budget-and-parliament/

MPs to debate Support for the Hospitality Industry during Covid-19

MPs will debate Support for the Hospitality Industry during Covid-19 on Wednesday 24 March in the main House of Commons Chamber. The subject of the debate has been determined by the Backbench Business Committee.

This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.

The debate will start after a debate on online anonymity and anonymous abuse.

Watch here this Wednesday: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4ee11fcd-f567-4897-8c0b-f04de0be4caa

You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-03-24

Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/

Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/

Government launches strategy for reopening and recovery of the hospitality sector

On Monday 19 July, the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets Paul Scully MP gave a written statement to the House of Commons on the Government's new Hospitality Strategy.

The Minister updated MPs on the Government's plans to support the hospitality sector in recovering from the covid-19 pandemic and the Government's long-term vision for the sector. These plans were set out in the Government's strategy paper for the sector, published on Friday 16 July, entitled 'Hospitality strategy: reopening, recovery, resilience'.

Read the Minister's statement:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-07-19/HCWS190

Read the Government's strategy paper:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hospitality-strategy-reopening-recovery-resilience

What are written statements?

Written ministerial statements are a way for Ministers to keep Parliament up to date with Government policies and actions, including its response to major issues or incidents, and to put this information into the public domain.

Find out more about them here:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/written-statements/